Crunch weekend for title hopefuls H&B

Top-of-the-table H&B simply have to win at third-placed Heathfield & Waldron in their penultimate fixture of the Division One campaign on Saturday March 31.

Captain Kit Claughton said: "I think it will be the toughest game of the season and it's the most important game I've been involved in during the last four years at the club."

H&B go into their final away game leading the standings by a point from Horsham on the back of nine consecutive league wins.

They have rattled up 329 points from their last six league assignments and have amassed a staggering points difference of +511 compared to Horsham's +297.

Claughton continued: "Our skill levels are quite high and we've got a lot of pace through the side. We're getting our basics right, our fitness is good and we've prepared really well."

H&B have come out on top in their previous three meetings with tomorrow's opponents, the most recent of which was a 13-5 victory at William Parker Sports College during December.

But that particular tussle was Heathfield's only defeat in their last 13 league matches and they picked up the Sussex Shield by beating Burgess Hill 23-7 on Sunday.

"They're playing with a lot of confidence and they've got a lot of good players. They can beat us, but I don't think they will," commented Claughton, who watched them in action at the weekend.

Victory would leave H&B needing only to beat second-bottom Pulborough at home on April 14 to gain a spot in London South East Division Four for the first time in 15 years.

Only the champions gain automatic promotion, the runners-up will have to play-off against their equivalent finishers from the Kent League.

The local club has lost play-offs in five of the last six seasons and Claughton is desperate to avoid yet another winner-takes-all showdown.

"To win the Sussex One title would be fantastic and I'm feeling the pressure far more in this game than I did in the play-off games," added Claughton.

H&B will be without the unavailable Northen brothers, David and Paul, but Andrew Hitch and Paul Sandeman will return. Kick-off is at 3pm.